What Are Ohio State's Odds to Win the National Championship?
The Buckeyes (+850) currently have the third-best college football odds to win the National Championship Game per FanDuel Sportsbook. Below you can find the Buckeyes odds to claim victory over college football, and those of fellow Ohio contenders.
There is a clear favorite among Ohio programs, but the Bearcats are there as well. Former head coach Luke Fickell, who helped build the Cincinnati defense into one of the best in the country, left for Wisconsin, hurting the chances the program hits the same ceiling it did a few years ago. The 2023 Bearcats aren't even close to the team on either side of the ball that made the College Football Playoff in 2021.
Ohio State College Football Week-by-Week Championship Odds
Each week during the regular season, I will be tracking the Buckeyes' National Championship odds. Be sure to keep this page in mind when wanting a quick update on how the Buckeyes' season is going.
- Preseason: +700
- After Week 1: +850
- After Week 2: +850
- After Week 3: +1000
- After Week 4: +850
Latest Updates Impacting Ohio State Buckeyes' National Championship Odds
To keep Buckeyes fans in the loop and bettors having the best possible outcome on their wagers, let's dive into a few impactful dates that have impacted the 2023 National Championship odds.
- 🗓️ August 21: Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar settle as starters at right and left tackle.
- 🗓️ August 21: Ryan Day says he plans to handle most of offensive play-calling.
- 🗓️ August 14: Linebacker and captain Kourt Williams II tears his ACL.
- 🗓️ May 9: The Buckeyes get a commitment from Ole Miss transfer defensive tackle Tywone Malone.
- 🗓️ April 27-29: The Buckeyes lose key pieces like C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr., and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to the NFL Draft.
Be sure to bookmark this page as several more will be released as the season progresses.
Key Contributors on the Ohio State Roster
There are several reasons why the Buckeyes are among the favorites to win the College Football Playoff. Ohio State might have a new quarterback after C.J. Stroud went second overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, but wide receiver, and also considered to be the best receiver in college football, but Marvin Harrison Jr. is among the favorites to win the Heisman. Check out the latest Marvin Harrison Jr. Heisman odds before you place a bet. Couple his talents with a pro-style offense and the No. 1 receiver from the Class of 2020, Julian Fleming, and the Buckeyes offense should be one of the most lethal in the NCAA. Kyle McCord, a junior, is expected to take over at quarterback. He was a four-star recruit out of the class of 2021.
Ohio State will have ample experience on their defense as well. Jim Knowles, who will be back for his second season, should be better. The Buckeyes will be bringing back their top three tackles from their 2022 season. Redshirt seniors Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers might not be the most high-profile names, but they will captain a defensive returning its core players. Those two led the team in tackles with returning senior safety Lathan Ransom third. The unity on this team should be among the best in college football. The Buckeyes only gave up more than 30 points in three games last season, so it should see similar results this upcoming year.
Sportsbooks Available To Bet on College Football Championship Odds
One can bet on college football odds at any legal sportsbook in Ohio or on any legal betting app. Every sportsbook will undoubtedly have National Championship odds. Sports betting in Ohio is and can be done through BetMGM, FanDuel, Betway, or Caesars.
Will Ohio State Win the National Championship in 2023-24?
There are many reasons why the Buckeyes sit third in the NCAA in National Championship odds. First of all, their offense is expected to be consistent dynamite and should present issues for all types of opponents. Ohio State scored 40-plus points in 10 games last season and has arguably more weapons this upcoming season. Harrison Jr. will be a problem for every team he faces, and it is likely he sets college football records this upcoming year.
Ohio State was also dominant against quality opponents last season, taking down Notre Dame to open the season and top-15 Penn State on the road in late October. They gave Georgia a far better game than most expected. The Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide both lost many key starters, each dropping many skill players along with losing their quarterbacks to the NFL.
While quarterback will be a key transition for Ohio State, the weapons and line on both sides of the ball will be good enough to make McCord's job easy. Ryan Day has the moxy to get the Ohio State Buckeyes there, and he proved that last season despite a difficult late-season loss to Michigan. Ohio State doesn't have a single new face on either its offensive or defensive line, and that will be key to consistently keeping McCord safe and applying pressure to opposing quarterbacks.
On top of that, Ohio State football has four ranked opponents on its schedule and hasn't slipped up against non-conference opponents under the Day era. It has shown it can get into the final four with one loss, and it would be shocking if this team had two. The Big Ten East should also be a far easier division, so a conference championship game loss shouldn't be an issue for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Expect Ohio State to run the table and for this dynamic attack to continually blow out opponents. At +700, backing the Buckeyes to get back to their former glory is worth the risk.
Ohio State National Championship History
Ryan Day has captained the Ohio State Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in just one of his four seasons, but he has been in the semifinal game in three of his last four, losing two of them. He lost 2019 to Clemson 29-23, beat Clemson 49-28 the following season then lost 42-41 to Georgia in 2022. In its lone championship appearance since 2014, Day lost to Alabama 52-24.
Ohio State football, in 2014, won the Big Ten East then destroyed Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten Conference Championship. The Buckeyes then took down Alabama 42-35 and Oregon 42-20 to win the 2014 College Football Playoff National Championship. Ohio State has eight claimed national title trophies, only two of which are in this century (2002 and 2014).
Which Ohio College Football Teams Have Won the National Championship?
Ohio State is the only program in Ohio to have a national championship title under its belt. There haven't been many other programs to get overly close to winning the coveted trophy.
Cincinnati reached No. 4 in the AP Poll in 2009, and it also reached that in a one-loss season in 2021. In 2021, behind now-Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder, the Bearcats won 13 games and the American conference, but they lost 27-6 in the Cotton Bowl to Alabama.
Where Can You Bet on Ohio State to Win the National Championship?
Ohio has 18 online sportsbooks, several retail sportsbooks and over 900 kiosks. As long as you are 21 years of age or older, you can bet on OSU, including the bets around Ohio State to win the National Championship. Ohio betting promos will be available for these types of bets. Place a moneyline, futures, totals, or other bet with your promo. We recommend signing up to a few operators to ensure you get the best Ohio State betting odds as they may vary by site.
Ohio State National Championship Odds FAQs
The odds the Ohio State Buckeyes win the 2023 National Championship Game are +850. That indicates that a $100 wager will return $850 in profit for a total payout of $950. The Buckeyes have the fourth-shortest odds entering Week 5.
Ohio State football has eight claimed national title trophies and seven unclaimed. Its unclaimed ones are from 1933, 1944, 1945, 1969, 1973, 1974, and 1975. Its claimed ones are from 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, and 2014. As you can see, Ohio State is one of the most accomplished programs in college football.
Ohio State battles Michigan at Michigan Stadium on Nov. 25, 2023. Kickoff is set for noon ET. It will be on a Saturday. Per FanDuel, Michigan is a 3.5-point favorite with both odds set at -110. Michigan has won two straight games after snapping an eight-game Ohio State win streak.
Cincinnati has never won a national championship in football. It played Alabama in the semifinal on Dec. 31, 2021, losing 27-6.
Author
Nathan, a lifelong Cincinnatian, has covered the Bengals and Buckeyes at various outlets for the last half decade. He is most proud to have attended both wins of the Bengals' 2-14 season in 2019. Nathan is our go-to expert for all things Bengals and Buckeyes.
